A stunning red sunrise over Auckland this morning is an indication of more rain today for country’s largest city.  Heavy rain drenched the City of Sails yesterday and last night and also delivered much needed rain to dry Waikato farms.    The band of rain moved yesterday from the north west to the south east….today it’s going to reverse that trend and go back on itself and returning rain or showers to Waikato, Auckland, Coromandel and Northland.

In the South Island a very weak front will break apart as it moves northwards during the day.

By Wednesday a large high pressure system is going to spread over the country creating strong south easterlies over the North Island with that departing low.   By Wednesday night clearer and calmer conditions will mean frosts inland and a drop in the relatively mild overnight lows.  Head Weather Analyst Philip Duncan says it could drop as low as minus 3 or 4 across Central Otago tonight.

Duncan has been watching the weather maps closely and expects the next significant weather system to arrive over the lower South Island on Sunday/Monday.  He says strong winds, snow and cold temperatures could all be in the mix for the lower South Island right through next week.  “It’s too early to be sure but some models are showing a week of rain and snow over some parts of the lower South Island”.